Hat cleaner and drier



' June 13, 1933.

H. S CHLESINGER HAT CLEANER AND DRIER Original Filed Sept. 23. 1929 2Sheets-Sheet l Jive 1M1 ma 62/1/2641: er

n 1933. H. SCI-ILESINGER I 1,913,724

HAT CLEANER AND DRIER Original Filed Sept. 25. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented June 13, 1933 PATENT OFFICE A UNITED STATES HARRYSGHLESINGERyOF MOINES, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF SEVENTY-FOUR ONE-HUNDRED-AND-EIGHTY-THIRDS TO ALFRED F, .YOERG AND THIRTY-FIVE ONE-HUNDRED-AND-EIGHTY-THIRDS TO'JAGK GOLDBERG, BOTH OF DES MOINES, IOWA HATCLEANER AND DRIER Application filed s temberas, 1929, Serial no.394,633. RenewedOctober c, 1932.

Moreparticularly, it is my object to provide a hat cleaner and drier inwhich an unprovedmeans is provided for drivmg a hat chuck and ablowerdevice. r

A further object is to provide in a machine of the character hereindisclosed having an operating motor and a heater with controls for themotor and heater, a means for posltively locking the controls againstmovement to on position when the lid oi? the machine is in openedposition.

A further ob 'ect is to provide a sliding bar and link connection forthrowing the machine out of operation when the lid 1S open,

the lid engaging the link connection.

Another object is to provide a novel clutch construction, whereby thehat chuclr may be thrown in and out of operation selectively.

Another object is to provide a wrmger basket of the centrifugaltypeespecially adapted to be associated with the hat chuck, whereby thecleaningfluld used n t es or other small articles may be extracted n thehat drying chamber of the machine.

Anotherobject is to provideannnprove-d type of control for a verticallymovable hat block in the machine, whereby the hat block may be caused toassume any desired elevation. 1 Another object is to provide a novelholder for a glass jar or other receptacle to receive the cleaning fluidflowing from the cleanmg chamber and drying chamber of the machine. Withthese and other objectsin view my invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of mydevice, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, ashereinaftermore fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1. i i i i lFlgure 4; 1s a sectional viewon the line H of Figure 3. a

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of an extractor basket used in themachlne.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on theline 6-6 of Figure 3.

able frame members and forms a table top.

Extending 'downwardlyfrom the top 12 is a cleaning chamber 14:. y r

A hub 16 is formed on the bottom of the chamber 14 and a sleeve 18 isvertically slidablethrough this hubl; The sleeve 18 is also guided by arod 20 secured to a cross member 23 of the frame of the machine. A plug22 is securedin the upper end of the sleeve 18 and terminates in areduced pin 24 adapted to support a hat block 26. The hat block 26 isreversible so that the flat side thereof may beusedin straw hats 28 asshown in Figure 3 is dotted lines. 1 a l A bumper spring 27 is mountedon the rod 20 below the sleeve 13. A clamp member 30 is secured to thesleeve 18 and a control lever 32 is in turn secured to the member 30. Ahandle 34 is provided for convenience of the operator in moving thelever 32 upwardly or downwardly as desired. The lever 32 extendsbetweenastationary block 36 and an eccentrio block 38 as best shown inFigure 7 A spring 40 is anchored to the frame member 42 at one end andto the handle of the eccentric block 38 at its other end for normallycausing the eccentric block to force the lever 32 against the stationaryblock 36 and thus hold the hat block 26 against downward movement. Thehandle 34: may be grasped for pulling the lever 32 upwardly withoutmanually releasing the eccentric block 38, but when it is desired tomove the lever downwardly, the eccentric block must be manuallyreleased.A On thetable top 12, I provide a cleaning fluid receptacle 44 adaptedto contain a cleaning fluid in an easily accessible position for usingit in cleaning hats. A drain pipe 46 controlled by a drain valve 48extends from the receptacle 44 to the cleaning chamber 14.

Supported on the table top 12 is a drying chamber 50 having a hinge lid52. A drain pipe 54 extends from the drying chamber 50 for dischargingfluid therefrom into the neck of a glass bottle or other suitablereceptacle 56. A drain pipe 58 extends from the cleaning chamber 14 tothe drain pipe 54.

As best shown in Figure 8, a holder for the bottle 56 is provided andconsists of a stationary base plate 60 having a stationary shoulder 61and a movable shoulder 63. The movable shoulder 63 is constrained towardposition with the receptacle 56 by means of the spring 65.

Within the drying chamber 50 is a hat chuck 62 fully described in mycopending application. A clutch lever 64 is provided for actuating thehat chuck 62 and is engageable with a notched bar 66 for retaining thechuck in any adjusted position. Aspring 68 holds the clutch lever 64 inthe notches of the bar 66. r

The hat chuck 62 is different from the one .shownin my copendingapplication in that drying air through the drying chamber may passoutwardly through'them for more thoroughly drying the hat adjacent thehat engaging members. I

The members 7 0 have their upper edges curved inwardly as clearly shownin the drawings. This is so that they will not make a. ring or bul einside of the crown of the hat when expanded. The projections 71 on themembers are to support the hat.

A thermostatically controlled electric heating device, the casing ofwhich is indicated by the reference numeral 72 is used for heating thedrying air in the present machine. This heater is similar inconstruction to the one illustrated in my copending application in whichit is fully described.

The casing 72 is connected with a manifold 7 4 extending upwardly asindicated at 76 into the drying chamber 50. A switch 78'is provided forturning the heater in the casing 72 on or off, as desired. A manifold 80is provided on the lid 52 and hinges with the lid. The manifold 80connects with a manifold 82 which is in communication with a blower 84by means of a tube 86.

The blower 84 is provided with a pulley 88, whereby the blower may bedriven from a motor by a belt 92. The belt 92 extends upwardly from bothsides of the motor pulley and over a pair of idlers 94 and 96. The beltthen extends in opposite directions and around the pulley 88 and a hatchuck pulley 98. Thus, the pulleys 88 and 98 are driven by one belt fromthe motor 90.

A disk 100 is secured to the hat chuck shaft 102, but the pulley 98 isloosely mounted thereon. A clutch member 104 is also loosely mounted onthe shaft 102. A pair of clutch pins 106 are secured to the clutchmember 104 and are adapted to extend through openings 108 in the disk100 and into openings 110 in the hat chuck pulley 98 (see Figure 3).

Sockets 112 are provided in the disk 100 for the pins 106 to rest inwhen the clutch member 104 is withdrawn for rendering the hat chuckinoperative.

In connection with the hinge of the lid 52, I provide a link 114 to actas a seat for the lid when open. The link 114 is connected with aslidable bar 116 normally held in an upward position by a spring 118.The lower end of the bar 116 is provided with a foot 120 adapted toengage a latch member 122 when the lid is in closed position and to holdsuch member in a raised position. The latch member 122 is adapted todrop behind a lug 124 on a lever 126 (see Figure 2) when the lid 52 isopened and the weight thereof causes the bar 116 to move downwardly.

The lever 126 is connected by a rod 128 with a motor switch control 180.The lever? 122 prevents movement of the handle 132 to switch to offposition and closing the valve plate 134.

In the case of an explosion, the violent opening movement of the lid 52causes it to swing backwardly to closed position after shutting off themotor control and the air valve so that it will smother any flames inthe drying chamber.

In connection with the manifold 74, 1 provide a door-like valvecontrolled by a rod 142 and over-center spring 144. This valve may bemoved to the dotted line position shown in Figure 4, whereby fresh airinstead of air through the heater 72 may be used in the drying processif desired.

In my copending application I illustrated a safety lever to preventopening of the valve plate 134 and prevent starting of the motor 90except when the clutch lever 64 was moved "ion ies

from its smallest adjusted position. This was for thepurpose ofpreventing operation of the motor except when the hat chuck wasexpanded, but I have found such a feature unnecessary, as the hat chuckcan be expanded while in'rotation, but cannot be contracted. action ofthe clutch lever tending to rotate the hat chuck faster than it alreadyis rotating and I find that sufiicient pressure can be exerted onthelever 64 in trying to c0ntract the hat chuck which will lift the machine, but will not movethe lever 64 relative to the machine. This is adesirable feature, as while in rotation, it is impossible'to contractthe hat chuck and thereby loosen the hat so that it will fly off thechuck.

In order to prevent hats from being expanded too much, especially ladieshats having brims of irregular shape, a flat metal band may be placedaround the hat and the hat eX- panded by the chuck members against thisband. It would be preferable, of course, to have several bands ofdifferent sizes to fit various sizes of hats.

In connection with the hat chuck I provide an extractor basket 146having a downwardlyextending flange 148 of the proper shape to fit thehat engaging member 70. The flange 148 is felt lined as indicated at150.

and the hat chuck expanded fortightly engaging the flange 148 (the felt150 being be tween the flange and the hat engaging members). The flange148 rests on the members 71and on top of the members 70 or may bearranged to rest on either alone.- Thus, ties and other small articlesafter being washed out in a cleaning fluid may be placed in theextractor basket 146 for extracting the fluid therefrom which will runinto the receptacle 56. r

The valve plate 134 may be open for allowing the circulation of air forcompletely drying and deodorizing the articles in the basket 146.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of theparts of my device without departing from the real spirit and purpose ofmy invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modifiedforms of structureor use of mechanical equivalents, which may bereasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. Hat drying mechanism comprising a drying chamber, a cover therefor, ahat support in said chamber, power means for rotating said support,control means for said power means, and mechanism for moving saidcontrol means to inoperative position when the cover is opened, saidmechanism comprising a link pivotally supported at one end, a barpivoted to the other end thereof and having a portion slidably 'mounted,

This is because of a contracting spring means to hold the bar in oneposition and means operatively connected with the control means andadapted to be engaged by the barwhen moved against the action of thespring to throw the control means to off position.

2 Hat drying mechanism comprising a drying chamber, a cover therefor, ahat support in said chamber, power means for rotating said support,control means for said power means, and mechanism for moving saidcontrol means to inoperative position when the cover is opened, saidmechanism comprising a link pivotally supported at one end, a barpivoted to the other end thereof and having a portion slidably mounted,springineans to hold the bar in one position, a lever, a link connectingthe lever with the control means, said bar being arranged to engage thelever and move the link and control means tooff position when the bar ismoved against the action of the spring.

3. Hat drying mechanism comprising a drying chamber, a cover therefor,means for supplying heated air thereto, a control valve included in suchmeans, and mechanism for closing said valve in the event said cover isopened, said mechanism comprising a link pivotally supported at one end,a bar pivoted to the other end thereof and having a portion slidablymounted, spring means to hold the bar in one position and a leveradapted to engage said valve and move it to closed position when the baris-moved against the action of the spring. a

4. Hat drying mechanisln comprising a drying chamber, a hat chucktherein, fan means for forcing air through said chamber, a motor foroperating said fan means and for rotating said chuck, a control forenergizing and de-energizing said motor, a valve for controlling theflow of such air, a lid for said chamber and means to normally preventmovement of said control for said motor to energizing position exceptwhen said lidis closed, said last means also operating to instantly movesaid valve to closed position when said lid is opened.

HARRY SCHLESINGERQ

